Karnataka issues notification on liquor duty hike

The Karnataka government has issued a fresh notification announcing a hike in prices of beer and lower-range Indian Made Liquor (IML), with the revised rates coming into effect from Thursday. This marks the fourth increase in liquor prices by the state in the last two years.

According to the notification released on Tuesday, the Additional Excise Duty (AED) on beer has been raised from 195 percent to 200 percent , amounting to a 5 percent hike. An earlier proposal that had called for a 10 percent additional excise duty hike was turned down due to protest by the state’s  alcobev traders association.

Earlier, the Federation of Wine Merchants Association Karnataka urged authorities to reconsider steep and frequent price increases that continue to impact the trade and consumers in the state.